Printing machine



Jari. 5, 1937. c. D. RYAN 2,066,422

PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l Commodore fl. Egan Jan. 5, 1937. c. D. RYAN 2,066,422

PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2- Commodore 0. Egan Jan. 5, 1937; c, D, R AN 4 2,066,422

PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Cammodore [P.Qyan

Jan. 5, 1937. c. D. RYAN PRINTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Commodore 3. Ryan yg SRO-away;

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE PRINTING MACHINE Commodore D. Ryan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to National Postal Meter Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 15, 1935, Serial No. 16,435

5 Claims. (Cl. 101-91) This invention relates to a printing machine of the multi-denomination postage printing type and, more particularly, to means for locking the casing door of the machine closed until the value printing means has been actuated to a nonprinting position with relation to the printing head of the machine. I

To prevent fraudulent tampering with the operating mechanism of a postage printing machine, it has been customary to seal such mechanism within a suitable casing and to provide a doorway through which access may be had to the printing die for the purpose of removing I the date circle for changing the date type thereof. Also, the doorway is arranged to permit the removal or replacing of the usual ink pad.

it When equipping such a machine with a multidenomination printing head arranged to print stamps of relatively high values, it has been found advisable "to provide means for preventing an attempt being made to obtain a fraudulent printing of postage, as for example on gummed tape, by projecting such tape through the doorway and bringing the same against the printing surface of the printer head.

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a locking system which is operatively connected to the denomination selector means whereby the casing door will be maintained securely locked at all times during the normal operation of the machine and may be unlocked only when the selector means has been shifted to actuatethe multi-denomination printing means to a non-printing position. When the parts are so positioned, the casing door may be easily opened for either changing the date printing type in the date circle printing die or for replacing or re-inking the usual ink pad of the machine. As the denomination printing means is turned to a non-printing position when the casing door is permitted to be opened, it will be impossible to obtain from the machine the printing of a fraudulent postage stamp.

It is a further object to provide the machine with locking means for the driving mechanism thereof, also operatively related to the selector means, whereby the machine will be locked against use when the selector means has been shifted to such position as to unlock the casing door. By this arrangement, it will be appreciated that when the casing door is unlocked it will be impossible to operate the driving mechanism of the machine in an attempt to bring the printer head down to a position from which an impression may be taken.

A further object is to arrange the multi-ratio connection with the selector means in such a way as to render this means inoperative to drive the adding and subtracting registers of the machine while the selector means is in position to release or unlock the casing door, thus further protecting the machine against improper operation.

A further object is to provide a multi-denomination postage printing machine which cannot be used for fraudulently printing postage stamps upon gummed or other forms of narrow material which may be inserted through the casing door.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the same is more fully understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth what is now considered to be a preferred embodiment. It should be understood, however, that this particular embodiment of the invention is chosen principally for the purpose of exempliflcation and that variations therefrom in details of construction or arrangement of parts may accordingly be effected. and yet remain within the spirit and scope of the invention as the same is set forth in the appended claims.

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevational view, partially in section, of the printing machine having the safety means of this invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 illustrates a fragmental plan view of Fig. 1, partially in section to show the structural details of the locking means for the casing door.

Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged fragmental side view of the safety means positioned to unlock the casing door.

Figure 4 illustrates a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the casing door open.

Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged sectional View of the adding and subtracting meters together with their multi-ratio driving means.

Figure 6 illustrates a schematic sectional View of the multi-ratio driving means; and

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective View of the main driving mechanism of the machine and the selector actuated locking means therefor.

The multi-denomination postage printing machine illustrated in the drawings is generally of the type shown and described in the application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No.

732,270, filed June 25, 1934, by Frank P. Sager and Ernest R. Bergmark, differing therefrom, however, in that the printing machine shown herein for the purpose of illustration is of the power driven type, whereas the machine ofv the application above referred to is a hand operated machine. It will be understood, however, that the invention set forth herein may be just as readily adapted to machines of eitherthe hand driven or power driven types.

The printing machine is organized in a compact unit having a suitably formed basecasting II to which the several elements of the machine are appropriately mounted. The base casting includes a solid bottom partition l2, arear wall l3, an intermediate standard l4, and a pair of front standards l5 for supporting the parts of the machine later to be described.

7 Printing head V The machine includes a printing head '16 and, as may be observed in Figure 1, the printing head I6 is suitably mounted. upon the forward end of a pair of swing arms H, as by means of screws [8. The rear ends of the swing armsmay be journaled upon a transverse shaft l9, which shaft may be suitably supported in the forwardly extending brackets formed upon the front face of the base casting rear wall l3. An ordinary spring means, not shown, may be provided for yieldingly urging the printing head to its elevated position as illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 4.

' The printing machine is provided with a driving mechanism, later to be described, which is operable for swinging the printing head into printing relation with mail matter placedupon the. resilient platen 2|,which platen is suitably mounted upon the forward end of the base cast- The face of the printing head may be date ing ll. provided with a stamp printing die 22 and a circle printing die 23.

The printing head is provided with a multidenomination printing means 24 which includes a rotatable member 25 journaled therein and which rotatable member is provided upon an appropriate portion of its periphery with value printing dies 26 so arranged that any one of these dies may be turned into a printing position, in which position they will coincide with the printing face of the stamp printing die 22 and for this purpose the stamp printing die is provided with a suitable opening 21 through which the die 7 Selector means The selector means may include a selector lever 28 journaled onthe stub shaft 29, and operatively connected to the selector rack 30 by means of link 3|. The link 3| is pivotally connected at one end to the selector lever by pivot pin 31a and at its. other end'to rack 30 by a pivot pin 3| b, v(Figs. 1 and 3). The selector rack may be slidably mounted upon one of the swing arms and provided at its forward end with a slot 32 through which a pin 33 may project to slidably support the forward end of the rack. The under surface of the forward end of the rack may be provided with a plurality of rack teeth 34 meshing with the multi-denomination printing means pinion 35.

By the mechanism just described, the multidenomination printing means may be rotated to bring any one of its printing dies into printing position.

Means are provided for correctly positioning the selector lever for each value of the multidenomination printing means.

In the machine illustrated, the selector positioning means may include a positioning pawl 36 pivotally fastened to the machine frame as by means of pivot pin 31 and carrying at its forward end an arcuate positioning comb 38 having a well rounded depression 39 for each value of the multi-denomination printing means. The

positioning comb is adapted to cooperate with a roller 40 journaled upon the side face of the se-- lector lever and is yieldin'gly urged into operative relation with roller 40 by suitable. springmeans It will be understood that the positioning v comb does not lock the selector lever in any one; of

its printing positions, merely acting to correctly locate this lever in order that the selectedvalue printing die will be positioned in a, correct:print-' ing position with relation to .thestamp die-22.;

The selector lever 28 may be swun from its position as illustrated in Fig. 1to any one of its three other positions. In swinging from anyone. position, the roller- 40. will; ride outlof its re-. lated depression 39 causing the positioningcomb to be lifted against the actionof spring- .41.

Figure 3 illustrates the selector leverv substantially midway between the first. and second p0 sitioning comb depressions 39 and illustrates the The tension of.

combin its elevated position. spring 4| is sufficient to causethe-selector lever to be swung until its roller 40 will ride into the: bottom of the nearestdepression should the se-; lector lever be released before arriving at that.

position, thus insuring a more or less automatic and positive positioning of the selector leverand.

thereby the automatic positioning of the selected printing die inits correct printingzposition.

It is necessary to register the value of. each stamp printed and, therefore, a suitable register is provided for this purpose. I r 7 Register In the embodimentof the invention illustrated in the drawings, the machine is provided with an adding register 42 and a subtracting register 7 43, (Figs. 1, 5, and 6). These registersareloperated during the printing cycle of the. machine to register therein the value of the stampTprinte.

ed and are of the usual construction commonly found in this form ofmachine', and. as no clain'is are addressed thereto it is not deemed necessary to describe the registers in detail other .than

to state with each actuation of the machine the value of the stamp printed 'willbeadded to the.

value registered in the adding register and subtracted from the value previously registered in the subtracting register;

It is necessary, however, toprovide a muiti ratio driving means operable for establishing a driving connection between the driving mechanism of the machine and the registers proportional to the value of the stamp being print ed,.as for example, in printing a2 centstamp 7 5 the multi-ratio driving means will be automatically positioned to add to the adding register two units and to subtract from the subtracting register a like quantity; and when printing a 10 cent stamp to add and subtract this value from the respective registers. The adding and subtracting registers are driven from the main shaft 44 of the driving mechanism of the machine. The driving connection from the shaft to the register includes the multi-ratio driving means and, as this mechanism is substantially identical for each of the registers, the description thereof will be limited to one, namely, to the adding register.

Referring particularly to Fig .6, it may be observed that the main shaft carries a driving pinion 45 meshing with a driven gear 46 carried by a sleeve 41, which sleeve is journaled upon the shaft 48 of the adding register. The sleeve is provided with a keyway 49 having securely mounted therein a suitable driving key. Slidably mounted on the sleeve 41 is a sleeve 50 which is considerably shorter than the main sleeve 41 and is provided with a keyway cooperating with the key means of the main sleeve so as to be driven thereby and yet to be slidable thereon.

Suitably fastened upon the periphery of the second ratio sleeve 50 are four ratio gears 5la, 5Ib, 5lc, and 5ld. The ratio gear 5la may be provided with two teeth, gear 5lb with three teeth, gear 5le with eight teeth and gear 5lcl with ten teeth.

Each of the ratio gears above referred to is also provided with a locking surface 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d. In parallel relation to the register shaft 48 is a counter shaft 53 having fastened thereto a ratio pinion 54. Also fastened upon shaft 53 is the units wheel driving pinion 55 maintained in continuous driving mesh with the units wheel driven gear 56.

The ratio pinion 54 is provided with a locking disc 58 which cooperates with the respective looking surfaces 52a, 52b, 52c, and 52d of the respective ratio wheels to prevent rotation of the ratio pinion until the gear teeth of the respective ratio gears reach the ratio pinion during the operation of the machine. In this way, the units wheel of the register will be locked against turning ex cept by the driving action of the ratio gears and also the teeth of the driven pinion will be maintained in position to mesh with the teeth of the related ratio gear during the operation of the machine.

It will be necessary, of course, to bring the correct ratio gear into driving relation with the ratio pinion for the printing of a stamp of selected value and for this reason the ratio gears are made to slide longitudinally with relation to the ratio pinion 54, thereby serially bringing any one of the ratio gears into mesh therewith. It is only necessary, therefore, to provide means operatively connected to the selector lever for shifting the ratio sleeve 59 in proportion to the movement of the lever when selecting a value for printing.

The operative connection between the selector lever and the ratio sleeve 50 may include providing a reciprocatory shaft 59 located parallel to the register shaft 48 and slidably mounted in the register in any suitable manner.

A crosshead 69 may be fastened upon shaft 59 and arranged to engage the annular groove 6| a rotatable connection between the sleeve and crosshead and yet providing a connection which will cause the ratio sleeve to slide in direct ratio to the motion of shaft 59.

As may be observed in Fig. l, shaft 59 is provided with a depending arcuate finger 62 closely 5' fitting a correspondingly shaped depression 63 formed in the free end of a lever arm 64 fastened l upon a transverse shaft 65. The outer end of shaft 65 may be provided with a lever 66 having its free end operatively connected to the selector lever 28 by means of link 61, as may be observed in Figure 3. Through this connecting mechanism it will be appreciated that a movement of the selector lever will be transmitted to slide the ratio sleeve proportionately, thus when the selector lever is positioned in its 2 cent position the ratio gear 5la having two teeth will be shifted into driving alignment with the ratio pinion 54. When the selector lever is shifted to the 3 cent position, the ratio gear 5l-b having three teeth will be shifted into driving alinement with the ratio pinion 54 and so on for the other positions of the selector lever. Thus, it will be appreciated, that with the actuation of the selector lever to any one of its positions will correspondingly set the multi-denomination printing means and the multi-ratio driving means to print and register the selected value of stamp when the machine is actuated through a printing cycle.

30 Driving mechanism The driving mechanism of the machine may include the main drive shaft 44 suitably journaled in the base casting I I and may be provided at its forward end with a crank arm 68, while the printing head it may be provided with a cam blade 69 having a cam groove 10 of appropriate shape cooperating with a roller H carried by the free end of the crank arm for driving the printing head into printing engagement with mail or other matter placed upon the resilient platen 2|.

It will be understood that one rotation of the main shaft 44 will bring about one complete printing and registering cycle of the machine.

It is desirable to provide the machine with means for locking the main shaft against rotation and thereby the printing and registering means during the actuation of the selector lever 28 from one printing position to the next. For this purpose the rear end 12 of positioning pawl 36 is provided with a more or less circular knob 13 arranged to cooperate with a suitable opening 14 formed intermediate the ends of the locking pawl 15, which pawl at one end may be journaled upon the rear wall I3 of the machine by pivot means 16, while the forward end of the pawl may have a downwardly projecting tooth 7'! directly overlying the locking notch 78 of the locking cam wheel 19, which wheel is securely fastened upon the main shaft 44. The position of the parts, as shown in Figure '7, illustrates the machine at rest. With the parts in the position shown, a movement of the selector lever from any one of the positioning notches 39 will cause the looking comb 38 to be raised as shown in Figure 3, bringing about a corresponding depression of the rear end of the positioning pawl and through its connection with the locking pawl will cause tooth 1'! thereof to be forced into locking engagement with the cam wheel 19, thus preventing operation of the machine until the selector lever has been shifted to its selected printing position, whereupon the positioning pawl 36 will return to its normal position under influence of spring 4|,

thereby lifting the lockingtooth I1: clear of the locking cam wheel 19', thus freeing the machine for operation.

The extreme rear end of the main drive shaft 44 may be providedwithone member 80 of an Oldham coupling, by which means the printing casting II in any suitable manner; not shown.

The casing is provided with a slotted opening 82 (Fig; 2) through which the upper end of the selector lever may project. The main drive shaft 44 of the machine extends through the rear end of the casing to provide a driving connection exterior thereof and the casing is provided with a transverse opening 83 directly above the resilient platen 2| to permit the placing of mail matter in printing position. p l

, To permit access to the date circle 'die of the printing head and to the ink pad, not shown, the side of the casing is provided with a more or less rectangular opening 84, as may be clearly seen in Figs 1, 3, and 4. A door' 85 is provided for normally closing opening 84. The door is mounted within the casing and is hinged therein by a suitable hinge pin 86 to the side of front standard 15. door is a handle 81 by means of which the door may be readily opened. When the printing ma chine'isto be used for the printing of postage stamps of various values, it has been found advisable to provide means which automatically lock the casing door closed until the multi-denomination printing means is turned to its nonprinting position as illustrated in Fig. 3, In other words, the casing door will be locked closed whenever any one of the several printing dies are in printing position and will only be unlocked to admit entrance to the machine when the multidenomination printing means is turned to its non-printing position. As the multi-denomination printing means is turned toits non-printing position by its'selector lever 28, it also follows that the multi-denomination'ratio driving means will be shifted to an inoperative position whenever the selector means is positioned to release the door for opening.

Casing door The casing door locking means may include providing a swinging gate 88 which is securely ing door as by means of pivot pin 92. The free end of link 9| is supported and guided by a diagonal plate 93. The diagonal plate extends from the corner bracket 94 adjacent the upper end of standard ll: of thebase casting, and is fastened thereto bylsuitable screw means 95'.

This plate is provided with a guideway 96. in which the head 91 of the projecting pin Bil/is adapted to slide.

To provide a further support for pin 90,,a

Projecting forwardly from the aoaensa;

as by rivets 98 and is suitably spaced fromfth'e plate, as may be observed, in Fig. 2, whereby. the

gate and related end of linkil l may be 'positioned reinforcing plate 98 maybe fastenedtcplate 93 for guiding and supportingQthe free end ofpin 98*; 7

As may be noted in ,Fig'. 1 when the selector lever is positioned to .placefthe 2 cent" printing die in. printing position,,the pin will engage the periphery of gte 88 and will thereby lock the casing door against opening.

Should it be attempted toopen door .j85", link 9| will thrust the pin 90 against the periph f eral edge of the gate 88,.thus securely lockingthe door'against being opened. If, howeventhe seletter lever is moved asiIIustratedinFig; '3;Ithat is in position substa'ntiallymidway between the 2 cent and 3!cent,selector positions, the gateslot 89 will'then register with the guidewaysjii and" I80 of plates93rand 98.;

The 'pienmg of the doorwill cause the pin; ,9! toztravel; along the-guideways 96 and lilll and into thegate' slot 88., It should be. remembered that this particular; positionjof the selector lever has actuated the .multi denomination printing means to its non-printingposition, has rendered the multi-ratio driving means inoperative. and

has caused the locking pawl. 15' to'lock. the] main drive shaft and thereby thefmachineagainst use; Thus it. -will' be-appreciated' that the machine is fully protected again'strnis-use when the casing.

door is unlocked. 'If the selector lever is shifte'dto any other position, the. peripheral edge of the gate member 88 will prevent thepin illl from sliding'along its. guidewaysflfi and-loll andthus securely lock the casing door closed.

In orderto'correctly. positionthe selector lever" for unlockingfthe. door, casing 8| .adjacent' the selector slot 83 may be. provided withindexrneans 01.. Also, upon-the casing adjacent: the slot for correctly positioning the selector lever are index numbers 2.3.18, and HI, which indicate, the-valuef of stamp which will be printed by the machine should the selector. l'everbe placed opposite any J one of these figures.

Although the mum ie'nornination printing and multi-ratio driving means have; been illustrated for a fourplace machine; that is a machine capable of printing fourdenoinination's, it will be understood that. a; machinemaybe builtfo a lesser or greater number offdenominati'ons" It is to" be understood thatfin some cases 1 may be advisable to unlock the casing door when a multi denominati'on. printing, die foffnominal value such as one','two or three cents is irifprint ing register as in such'case it'would not'b worth the trouble and risk to attempt to obtain a fraudulent stamp. I f Having fully described 'a preferred embodiment of the invention, itis to beFunderstood' that it is notto be limited to the details herein set'forth but the invention is for the full scopeofth'e appendedclaims. M U

Iclaim:

1. In a multi-denomination printing machine}:

a printer head, multi-denominatiom printing meanscarried thereby and operable for'presenting a single valueat the printing position for each printing operation, 1 selector" means" operable for actuating the multi-de'nomination printing means to. bring the selected value intoprintingfposition,

c'asing' means inclosing the machine and-havinga o en n a -i e mw w es i? his? a 1 iii) head, a door for closing the casing opening, and means for locking the door closed, and means actuated by the selector means when the selector means is actuated to position the multi-denomination printing means in a non-printing position for releasing the door locking means.

2. In a multi-denomination printing machine, a printer head, multi-denomination printing means carried thereby and operable for presenting a single value at the printing position for each printing operation, selector means operable for actuating the multi-denomination printing means to bring the selected value into printing position, a first locking means associated with the selector means for locking the machine against use during the operation of the selector while actuating the multi-deno-mination printing means from one value to the next, casing means inclosing the machine and having an opening for permitting access to the printer head, a door for closing the casing opening, and a second locking means associated with the selector means for locking the door closed until the said selector means is shifted to bring the multi-denomination printing means to a non-printing position and the first locking means into action for locking the machine against use.

3. In a multi-denomination printing machine, a driving mechanism for the machine, a printer head driven thereby, multi-denomination printing means carried by the printer head and operable for presenting a single value at the printing position for each printing operation, selector means operable for actuating the multi-denomination printing means to bring the selected value into printing position, locking means associated with the selector for locking the driving mechanism whenever the multi-denomination printing means is moved from any one of its correct printing positions, casing means inclosing the machine and. having an opening for permitting access therein, a door for closing the casing opening, stop means operatively associated with the door, gate means operatively associated with the selector for opposing the stop means and to thereby lock the casing door, said gate being operable to release said stop for unlocking the door when the selector is shifted to move the multi-denomination printing means to a predetermined non-printing position in which position of the selector the aforementioned locking means will act to lock the machine against use.

4. In a multi-denomination printing machine, a printer head, multi-denomination printing means carried thereby and operable for presenting a single value at the printing position for each printing operation, selector means operable for actuating the multi-denomination printing means to bring the selected value into printing position, casing means inclosing the machine and having an opening for permitting access to the printer head, a door closing said casing opening, stop means operatively associated with the door, gate means operatively associated with the selector and opposed to said stop for locking the door closed until the selector is shifted to bring the multidenomination printing means to a predetermined non-printing position.

5. In a multi-denomination printing machine, a printer head, multi-denomination printing means carried thereby and operable for presenting a single value at the printing position for each printing operation, selector means operable for actuating the multi-denomination printing means to bring the selected value into printing position, casing means inclosing the machine and having an opening for permitting access to the printer head, a door for closing the casing opening, and means for locking the door closed, and means actuated by the selector for releasing the door locking means when said selector is actuated to a predetermined position.

COMMODORE D. RYAN. 

